Account control and access management of sub-accounts from master account

Abstract

A system and method to manage and control access to content and transactions for use by a transaction device are described in detail below. In addition, authorization for an account to request content or conduct transactions may be confirmed locally within the transaction device. Further, setting levels of access and account management for each account can be performed locally within the transaction device. In one embodiment, access is requested from a secure entity. The access to the secure entity is granted if authentication information identifying a user requesting the access is provided to the secure entity. In one embodiment, a control parameter is stored on a local device; content is requested from the local device; and the content is locally compared with the control parameter on the local device to determine whether requesting the content is allowed. In another embodiment, a category is stored on a local device associated with an account; and the account is locally managed via the category on the local device. In yet another embodiment, a spending limit level is assigned to an account on a local transaction device; and transactions from the account on the local device are locally controlled in response to the spending limit level.

1 . A transaction device comprising: 
 a. an account management module for locally managing account functions; and    b. a storage device connected to the account management module for locally storing account data from the account management module.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the account management module grants and enforces access rights for viewing content.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the account management module grants and enforces spending rights.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the account management module enforces a set of rules for modification of an account parameter.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the set of rules includes a hierarchy of accounts and sub-accounts.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the account parameter includes a level of authorization for content.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the account parameter includes a spending level authorization.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising an authentication module connected to the account management module for locally authenticating an identity of a user of the transaction device.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein the authentication module is a biometric device.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein the biometric device relies on a fingerprint scan.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein the biometric device relies on an iris scan.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the account data includes financial data.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the account data includes access rights data.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a transaction privacy clearing house interface connected to the account management module configured to securely complete a financial transaction with a vendor anonymously.  
     
     
         15 . A method comprising: 
 a. selecting a parameter to control access to content from a local device;    b. storing the parameter on the local device; and    c. comparing a content request to the parameter on the local device.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the parameter is a category designation.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the parameter is a level status.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the parameter is a spending limit.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising checking an identification of a user of the local device.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising requesting content associated with the content request from a remote device in response to comparing the content request.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the remote device is a web site.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the remote device is a transaction privacy clearing house.  
     
     
         23 . A method comprising: 
 a. storing a control parameter on a local device;    b. requesting content from the local device; and    c. locally comparing the content and the control parameter on the local device to determine whether requesting the content is allowed.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the control parameter is a category designation.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the control parameter is a level status.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the control parameter is a spending limit.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising checking an identification of a user of the local device.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising requesting the content from a remote device in response to comparing the content request.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the remote device is a web site.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the remote device is a transaction privacy clearing house.  
     
     
         31 . A method comprising: 
 a. storing a category on a local device associated with an account; and    b. locally managing the account via the category on the local device.    
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein locally managing further comprises selecting a spending limit for the account.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein locally managing further comprises selecting a content access control for the account.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31  further comprising managing a plurality of accounts by selecting a single spending limit for the plurality of accounts.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 31  further comprising managing a plurality of accounts by selecting a single content access control for the plurality of accounts.  
     
     
         36 . A method comprising: 
 a. assigning a content access level to an account on a local transaction device; and    b. locally controlling content accessibility to the account on the local device in response to the content access level.    
     
     
         37 . A method comprising: 
 a. assigning a spending limit level to an account on a local transaction device; and    b. locally controlling transactions from the account on the local device in response to the spending limit level.    
     
     
         38 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising: 
 a. storing a control parameter on a local device;    b. requesting content from the local device; and    c. locally comparing the content and the control parameter on the local device to determine whether requesting the content is allowed.